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Cough
Basics
OVERVIEW
The respiratory tract consists of the “upper respiratory tract” (the
nose, nasal passages, throat, and windpipe [trachea]) and the
“lower respiratory tract” (the bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli
[the terminal portion of the airways, in which oxygen and
carbon dioxide are exchanged])
The “large airways” are the windpipe (trachea) and large bronchi
that branch from the trachea to the right and left lungs
A cough is a sudden and often repetitively occurring defense reflex
that helps clear large airways of excess secretions, irritants,
foreign particles, and microbes as well as clear foreign material
from upper airways
The cough reflex consists of three phases: breathing in
(inhalation), forceful exhaling action (expiration) against a
closed glottis (the “glottis” is the opening between the vocal
cords in the voice box [larynx]) and a violent expulsion of air
from the lungs, following the opening of the glottis) and usually
accompanied by a sudden sound
Coughing can happen voluntarily as well as involuntarily, although it is presumed to be essentially involuntary in
dogs and cats
SIGNALMENT/DESCRIPTION OF PET
Species
Dogs and cats of all ages and breeds
SIGNS/OBSERVED CHANGES IN THE PET
Cough; much more common clinical sign in dogs than in cats
Cough can be described as dry or moist; productive; honking; short or harsh; faint or deep
Cough may be followed by gagging or retching
May be caused by pulling on the collar or may be worsened by exercise or excitement
May be accompanied by stertor (noisy breathing when inhaling; it is a low-pitched, snoring sound that usually
arises from the vibration of relaxed or flabby tissue or fluid; usually arises from airway blockage in the throat
[pharynx]) or stridor (high-pitched, noisy breathing; the higher-pitched sounds result when relatively rigid
tissues vibrate with the passage of air; result of partial or complete blockage of the nasal passages or voice box
[larynx] or collapse of the upper part of the windpipe [known as “cervical tracheal collapse”]), or difficulty
breathing (known as “dyspnea”)
CAUSES
Cough is a sign that results from many conditions. These include diseases or abnormalities in the upper airway
(respiratory tract) consisting of the nose and throat (known as the “nasopharyngeal” area), the voice box
(larynx), and the windpipe (trachea). The lower respiratory tract consists of the lungs and related tissues (such
as the bronchi). In addition, problems involving the lungs and the blood vessels in the lungs
(pulmonary/vascular disease) can lead to coughing as can problems in the esophagus and lining of the chest
Upper Respiratory Tract Diseases
Nasopharyngeal area (nose and throat)—inflammation of the nose (rhinitis); inflammation of the sinuses
(sinusitis); foreign body or tumor in the nose or throat; inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis); tumor of the
tonsils—due to extension of inflammation and/or secretions into the throat and/or voice box
Upper airway cough syndrome—inflammation and/or secretions into the throat (pharynx) and/or voice box
(larynx); previously known as “postnasal drip syndrome”
Larynx (voice box)—inflammation; paralysis; tumors; collapse of the voice box or larynx (known as “laryngeal
collapse”)
Trachea (windpipe)—inflammation (tracheitis); infections (viral, bacterial, and parasitic); foreign body; collapse of
the windpipe (tracheal collapse); narrowing of the trachea (known as “tracheal stenosis”); tumor
Lower Respiratory Tract Diseases
Bronchial—inflammation; infection (viral, bacterial, and parasitic); allergy; foreign body; tumors or cancer
Pulmonary (lung)—inflammation; infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal); aspiration pneumonia; fluid
buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema);
Cancer—may originate in the lungs (primary cancer) or have spread into the lungs (metastatic cancer); may be
secondary to enlarged lymph nodes compressing on airways
Chemical agents (such as noxious fumes) or trauma (such as near-drowning, foreign body, hit-by-car)
Pulmonary/vascular (lung/blood vessels)—heartworm disease; blood clots in the lungs (thrombosis or embolism);
congestive heart failure (CHF); high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension); heart-base tumors
Other Causes
Esophagus—enlarged esophagus (known as “megaesophagus”); gastroesophageal reflux (backward or reverse flow
of stomach or intestinal contents into the esophagus)
Passive smoke inhalation
Adverse reaction to medication (such as to potassium bromide in cats)
RISK FACTORS
Breed
Toy and miniature breeds at risk for collapse of the windpipe (known as “tracheal collapse”)
Terrier breeds at risk for pulmonary fibrosis, characterized by excessive fibrous or scar-type tissue as part of a
reactive process in the lungs
Siberian husky, rottweiler, Labrador retriever, and Jack Russell terrier at risk for eosinophilic
bronchopneumopathy, a lung disease characterized by the presence of numerous eosinophils (a type of white
blood cell) in the lung tissue.
Giant breeds at risk for dilated cardiomyopathy; dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart muscle is
flabby and weak (also known as DCM)
Labrador retriever and large-breed dogs at risk for laryngeal or voice box paralysis
Siamese cats at risk for feline bronchitis syndrome; bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi
Environmental Factors
Longhaired cats that are groomed infrequently will periodically retch, cough, and vomit up mats of hair
Drugs
Potassium bromide in cats
Geographic Area (or Travel History)
Certain diseases are common in specific areas and likely to occur in others (such as heartworm disease)
Treatment
The most successful management of cough involves treatment and resolution of underlying cause, rather than use
of medications to decrease or stop the cough (known as “cough suppressants”). A wide variety of conditions can
be responsible for the cough. A diagnostic workup may be required to define the underlying cause and to allow
appropriate treatment
HEALTH CARE
Outpatient
Long-term (chronic) cough—related to inflammation; anti-inflammatory therapy is preferred to medications to
decrease or stop the cough (cough suppressants)
Medications to decrease or stop the cough (cough suppressants)—limit to pets in which the cause of the cough
cannot be treated medically nor resolved and in which excessive coughing leads to exhaustion of the pet or lack
of sleep by the owners
ACTIVITY
Exercise restriction may be necessary, as recommended by your pet's veterinarian
Medications
Medications presented in this section are intended to provide general information about possible treatment. The
treatment for a particular condition may evolve as medical advances are made; therefore, the medications should
not be considered as all inclusive
Antibiotics—for suspected infectious causes of cough
Anti-inflammatory medications—indicated for treatment of feline bronchitis syndrome, canine long-term (chronic)
bronchitis, or canine eosinophilic bronchopneumopathy; prednisolone administered by mouth (oral
prednisolone)
Administration of medication in a fine spray (known as “nebulization”)—fluticasone or budesonide; administered
with a face mask and spacer
Antihistamines—can be helpful in allergic inflammation of the trachea (known as “allergic tracheitis”) or bronchi
(known as 'allergic bronchitis”)
Cough suppressants (known as “antitussives”)— hydrocodone or torbutrol for dogs; no cough suppressants
available for cats
Bronchodilators are medications that open up (dilate) the bronchi, such as extended-release theophylline and
terbutaline—may be beneficial for a variety of diseases affecting the trachea and lower respiratory airways
Expectorants are medications intended to loosen and increase the removal of mucus from the lungs, such as
guafenesin—present in some cough medications; benefit not proven
Follow-Up Care
PATIENT MONITORING
Follow-up physical examinations and diagnostic tests, as directed by your pet's veterinarian
PREVENTIONS AND AVOIDANCE
Prevention is determined by the cause of the cough; use of heartworm preventives to protect the dog or cat from
heartworm infection; vaccinations and limiting exposure to pets with infectious disease coughing (such as
kennel cough for dogs)
POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS
Sudden (acute) cough must be treated adequately in order to avoid long-term (chronic) cough, possibly leading to
irreversible changes in the respiratory tract
Progression of underlying disease
Sudden (acute) severe cough may lead to fainting (known as “syncope”), rib fracture, or accumulation of air
between the chest wall and lungs (known as “pneumothorax”)
EXPECTED COURSE AND PROGNOSIS
The expected course and prognosis are determined by the cause of the cough
Conditions leading to long-term (chronic) cough sometimes can only be controlled, but not cured
Serious respiratory dysfunction and even death may be caused by underlying disease
Key Points
Cough is a sign of disease
Wide variety of conditions can be responsible for cough, and a diagnostic workup may be required to define the
underlying cause
Most successful management of cough involves treatment and resolution of underlying cause, rather than use of
medications to decrease or stop the cough (cough suppressants)
Enter notes here
Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult: Canine and Feline, Fifth Edition, Larry P. Tilley and Francis W.K. Smith, Jr. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.